How to upgrade RAM

Monday, April 9, 2012 - 22:40

Does your computer running a little slower than you think it should? While there are many things that can cause a computer to run more slowly, like poor air circulation, a virus, or regular wear and tear over the years, one of the easiest ways to upgrade your computer's speed is to increase the amount of RAM that it has. RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and in a nutshell, it's the part of the computer that helps it to be better at doing multiple things at once. It's part of the physical hardware of the computer, so if you want to upgrade it, you'll need to open it up and do just a little bit of work. Here's how to upgrade your computer's RAM and help it run faster.

First of all, you should diagnose your computer's lack of speed and make sure that it's due to an insufficient amount of RAM, and not something else. As we just mentioned, the slowness could be the result of a virus, unnecessary programs taking up resources, or even a large amount of dust inside the computer. Be sure that those things aren't the cause of the problem, otherwise you'll be spending money on something you don't need. Once you've diagnosed the problem and concluded that more RAM would help, be prepared to spend anywhere from $25 to $50, depending on how much you need and how much your computer can handle.

Next, make sure that the RAM you're buying is compatible with your computer's motherboard. If you purchased a computer that was pre-built, the type of RAM it takes will either me listed in the documentation, or easily available online. Just search for your computer's model number, or call the manufacturer to find out. Currently, there are three different kinds of RAM: DDR, DDR2, and DDR3, with DDR3 being the newest. You should also make sure that the frequency of the RAM matches up (e.g., 1333, 1600, 1800, and so on). If this sounds Greek to you, call the manufacturer or a local computer store for help.

Now that you've got the correct type of RAM for your computer, the actual installation is a piece of cake. RAM comes in the form of a slender, elongated chip (usually called a "stick") that snaps directly in to the motherboard. You'll have either one or two sticks to install, depending on how much RAM you purchased. Take the side panel off the computer (or if you have a laptop, a smaller panel on the bottom) and find the sticks that look like what you're holding in your hand. (The computer already has some RAM in it; it couldn't function otherwise.) Chances are, there will be at least one or two open slots next to the RAM that's already in there. The open slot will have two small white tabs on both ends. Move those outward to make room, put the side of the stick with the gold panels facing downward, line up the notch with the one that's in the motherboard, and press down until the white tabs automatically snap into place. (You'll hear a "click" sound when they do.) The pesky part about installing RAM is that you have to push down with quite a bit of force before it snaps in, so don't try to be gentle about it! Believe it or not, you'd have to take the motherboard out and bend it with both hands before it snaps, so don't worry about damaging anything. If there are no open slots, then you'll need to take out the RAM that's already in there. Push the two white tabs out and pull upwards on the stick to remove it. You may have to wiggle it back and forth, but it will come out eventually. Note: Unless your RAM has a protective plastic covering over the circuitry, always handle it by the edges, and never touch the gold plating at the bottom.

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